Britain's sexiest farmers turn public on to agriculture

Two farmers from the West Country have been voted Britain's 'sexiest' in a
competition that aims to challenge farmer stereotypes.

Graeme Moon, 31, and Rachel Churches, 18Photo: FARMERS WEEKLY

By Rachel Jones, Social Media Content Editor

3:26PM GMT 07 Feb 2014

If TV adverts for a popular dating website are to be believed, all the most desirable people wear a uniform. But 'uniform' might have to be extended to include a sturdy pair of wellies after two farmers were elected the sexiest in the country.

Graeme Moon, 31, and Rachel Churches, 18, beat more than 300 rivals to win the title, after earning the most votes from the British public on Facebook.

Rachel Churches has lived and worked on her family's dairy and beef farm near Glastonbury all her life - doing everything from welding and milking to calving and tractor work. She's currently at college studying for an extended diploma in agriculture.

She got involved in the competition to prove that "girls can do just as well as boys" in farming, pointing out that in her college class of 28 people, only four are girls.

"I'm sure the public think of men when they think of farmers," she said, but there are lots of doors for women to open."

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The winner in the male category, pig farmer Graeme Moon, has become something of a local celebrity in his Somerset village since he was nominated by his wife.

(FARMERS WEEKLY)

"A lot of people only see farmers when they're stuck behind a tractor on the road - I think in general they're portrayed quite negatively," he told the Telegraph. "But we're a country based on farming and people need to see more of it.

"If I've got one hope for this competition it's that people support their local farmers a bit more and buy British."

The competition was run by trade magazine Farmers Weekly primarily as a "bit of fun", but organisers are also hoping it will give agriculture's image a boost.

Farmers Weekly’s Community Editor Tim Relf said: “It does have a serious side as it will help dispel the myth that farmers are old-fashioned and scruffy and encourage more young people to consider careers in this innovative and high-tech sector.”

The shortlist featured farmers from nine counties but the winning pair only live 15 minutes away from each other in Somerset - arguably making West Country farmers the sexiest in the UK.